Labradoodle or Australian Labradoodle

The first recognized specimen of labradoodle was recorded in 1955 . However, it was not until 1988 that the Australian breeder Wally Conron made this hybrid breed known to the entire world in his association called “Guide Dogs Victoria”, to be guide dogs for blind people. Thus, the objective of this crossing was none other than to obtain a hypoallergenic, affectionate, loyal dog with great learning skills. From then on, this mix between Labrador Retriever and Standard Poodle or Poodle began to be known and admired worldwide.

Currently, there is no unified Labradoodle breed standard. One of the main reasons is the lack of consensus regarding the crossings to be made. Many breeders advocate making only first-generation crosses, that is, only between Labradors and poodles, while others cross Labradoodles with each other. This has caused them to begin to differentiate, with the latter being known as Australian Labradoodle or multigenerational.

Over the years, many breeders have attempted to develop the breed improperly, without taking into account the genetics of the parents, hereditary diseases or family ties. This fact caused the Labradoodle to experience a huge crisis, since many of the puppies had congetic diseases or nervousness problems due to improper breeding. However, other breeders, such as Mellodie Woodlye, did keep all these criteria in mind and decided to develop the breed in a more respectful way, baptizing it with another name to get away from the fame that the bad practices of others had given to the Labradorol. This new name was Australian cobberdog or Australian cobberdog.

Little by little the breed was consolidated and, currently, the Australian Cobberdog is a breed officially recognized by the Australian MDBA Association.

Are the Labradoodle and the Australian Cobberdog the same dog?

Although many people consider that we are talking about the same hybrid dog, the truth is that we are not . The Labradoodle is the cross between a poodle and a Labrador that, after years of development, gave rise to the Australian Cobberdog. In this way, the labradoodle is a mixed breed dog, while the cobberdog is a recognized breed, although not by all cynological organizations.

The Labradoodle is a breed of dog that is the result of crossbreeding between standard poodles and Labrador retrievers, which explains many of its characteristics. As for its size , it can vary significantly, distinguishing three types:

• Labradoodle toy , which measures between 35 and 50 centimeters.
• Medium Labradoodle , with a size of 45 to 51 centimeters.
• Standard or large Labradoodle , measuring 53 to 63 centimeters.

Their weight is usually in the range between 20 and 35 kilograms . Their life expectancy is between 9 and 15 years. Their morphology is very different from one another, as there are some that are more similar to Labrador Retrievers, others to standard poodles and others are true amalgams between traits of both breeds. Some of the characteristics of the Labradoodle that they usually share are their rounded and furry paws , an equally rounded and long tail, and dark eyes and nose. On the contrary, the shape of its snout, ears and the morphology of the rest of the body is not predictable.

In addition to the differences in size, there are great differences in their appearance. For example, if we talk about their fur , it can be either curly or straight, rough or soft, short or long , and there are also all the respective combinations. Despite these differences, all Labradoodles typically have dense, thick hair and longer, thicker hair on the torso, face, and paws. Likewise, another trait that is usually met in all Labrador Doodle dogs is that, due to their genetics, they are hypoallergenic dogs .

Characteristics of the mini labradoodle

As we have said, a Labradoodle arises from the mix between a Labrador Retriever and a Standard Poodle, but what happens if the cross is between a Labrador Retriever and a Mini Poodle ? Well, without a doubt, we will have an adorable miniature labradoodle, one of those considered “designer dogs.”

In this mix, the general characteristics correspond to those of the Labradoodle in general, so that the only difference lies in the size, which is much smaller than that of its medium and large congeners. In general, they are active, happy and very affectionate, loving the company and attention of their family.

What is the labradoodle or Australian labradoodle puppy like?

One of the peculiarities of this breed of dog is that the puppies do not follow a specific standard , there being immense variability from one to another. Even talking about puppies from the same litter and the same sex, there can be tremendous differences. Furthermore, the development and morphology of this hybrid dog breed depends largely on the care and conditions in which it has been raised, so its food, diet and the exercise it performs will be some of the factors that will most determine its appearance. of adults.

In general, it can be said that Labradoodle puppies are friendly, active and playful , affectionate and, above all, very familiar. Since they were little, they tend to show great curiosity and affinity for water, which is why they love to bathe and swim in it. In this sense, if you have just adopted a Labradoodle puppy and want to start socializing it with these environments, you can consult the beaches to take it to in this list: ” Dog beaches in Spain “.

Labradoodle Colors

Due to the absence of an official breed standard, there are no limitations on what colors are allowed and what are not. Some of the possibilities are: red, black, cream, coffee, chocolate, blue, gray or chalk, there are many more. In fact, it is possible to find a white, black, or spotted Labradoodle.

Due to the good character and qualities of the parent breeds, Labradoodle mixes have a personality worth admiring. In this way, they are known for being extremely sociable and intelligent dogs , something that is not surprising, since both the poodle and the Labrador retriever are in the top positions in the ranking of the most intelligent dogs . They also stand out for being balanced and calm.

For the above reasons, the Labradoodle is a mixed breed dog that is very suitable for families, as they adore children and love to spend time with them, taking care of them and playing. They also make good therapy dogs , as well as recognized skilled and collaborative guide dogs. They adapt well to all spaces and companies, being friendly to everyone. Although they withstand all climates well, they handle temperate climates somewhat better.

We leave you the following AnimalWised article so that you can learn about the ” Therapy Dog Breeds “.

Labradoodle care basically falls on two pillars: feeding and attention . Therefore, below we are going to see the care of the Labradoodler dog in more detail:

• Feeding : the most important thing will be to provide a quality diet that is appropriate to its nutritional requirements and is adjusted to the level of physical activity that the animal usually performs. We will have to offer them a food rich in proteins, omega 3, vitamins and minerals such as calcium or phosphorus, which are essential for them to enjoy good health. We have to control their intake, since they are somewhat anxious and greedy, and can easily overindulge and gain too much weight.
• Exercise : As we have mentioned, Australian Labradoodle dogs are very intelligent, something that benefits them when it comes to exercising. They will be quick learners. Although they are quite calm, they need physical and mental stimulation. You have to walk them at least twice a day, always calculating that a dog should go out between 2 and 3 hours a day. Furthermore, they always try to satisfy their owners. As for the attention that we have to give it, one of the most important is the company , in addition to a lot of affection , since it is a dog that needs to be accompanied to stay happy and balanced. Faced with loneliness, he becomes taciturn, sad and avoidant, since it generates a lot of frustration and anxiety . For all these reasons, it is very important to make use of positive reinforcement and carry out enriched as well as exciting training.
• Hygiene : regarding the care of its coat, these vary significantly from one individual to another, since, as we have mentioned, the Labradoodle can be of many types and each of them will need to be cared for in a different way, with different frequency and Utensils. Thus, the important thing is to adapt this care to the type of hair the dog has.

Training a Labradoodle is generally a simple task, as they are docile dogs willing to learn . This ease is given by the combination of parent breeds, since both the poodle and the Labrador retriever are popular for being easy to train.

Of course, it is important to socialize the dog at an early age, since then it will be as outgoing and friendly as expected. It will also be essential to teach him to eat properly, getting used to not giving him treats too frequently since he will not receive food for crying or being too insistent, his gluttony can cause health problems.

Of course, to avoid this type of situation, the best thing to do is to establish meal times and not wait until the dog is hungry to feed it. If we anticipate and offer food at the right time, the animal will not appear anxious or nervous. We tell you ” How to socialize a puppy dog ​​correctly? ” in the following AnimalWised article.

On the other hand, as we said, the Labradoodle is very good as a therapy dog ​​and guide dog, so it is possible to teach them these jobs that they perform so well, their rapid progress being notable in tasks as complicated as those required for them. In any case, both for basic training and for a more advanced one, it is crucial to use positive reinforcement and avoid those techniques that do not respect the animal’s well-being, such as shouting, punishment or physical violence.

The Labradoodle is, in general, a fairly healthy dog , however, they can suffer from a series of diseases with a greater propensity than other dog breeds. One of the most common problems in these dogs is hip dysplasia , something they inherit from the two breeds they come from, as it is common in both poodles and Labradors. Given this condition, the essential thing is good veterinary follow-up to be able to make an early diagnosis, which will improve the prognosis.

Another of the most common Labradoodle diseases is progressive retinal atrophy , which affects their eye health, damaging the retina and causing blindness if not treated properly. They also tend to suffer from multifocal retinal dysplasia, something typical in Labradors, which also affects the health of their retinas.

If after having reviewed the characteristics of the labradoodle in terms of its morphology and character we want to share our life with one of them, it is logical that the question arises: where to adopt an Australian labradoodle or a mini labradoodle? Although it is possible to find a Labradoodle for sale, at ExpertoAnimal we always encourage you to visit kennels, shelters and animal shelters in order to adopt and, little by little, combat animal abandonment. Since this dog is a mixed breed dog, adopting a Labradoodle is possible and it does not have to be difficult to find a specimen that we can rescue and give it a second chance. To do this, the most effective thing is to follow these organizations through social networks and contact them so that they can notify us as soon as a dog with these characteristics arrives at their facilities.

On the other hand, when you go to look for the puppy or adult dog you must be able to broadly evaluate whether it is in good health and whether it has a character that adapts to yours. To do this, follow the following guidelines or tips:

• Look at the state of their mucous membranes : nose, eyes, mouth and ears, they must be pink and without abnormal secretions.
• Ask for the puppy’s record, seeing what vaccinations and dewormings have been done. In addition, the exact date of birth or an approximate date will be recorded there, depending on whether the origin of the dog is known or not.
• Evaluate the behavior of the puppy or adult dog, both with other dogs and with people, so you will know if it is well socialized or if you will need to work on this aspect.
• If you are not informed of this, check to see if the dog is sterilized and has a microchip.

Once you have reviewed the previous aspects, if you consider that the dog does not quite adapt to your lifestyle or you suspect that you will not be able to assume the responsibility that its education entails, the most sensible thing is to accept it and adopt another dog that you can. look after. Sometimes, due to their previous experiences, some dogs, Labradoodles or other breeds, may appear fearful or insecure, so it will be necessary to work with them to restore their security and confidence.

If you already have a dog or are planning to adopt one, you can buy a customizable tag with its name. In it you can record the most important data in case of loss. You just have to follow the following link to have one: